The Runaways DVD
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon
Director: Floria Sigismondi
Rating: 2.5/5
It seems that Hollywood cannot help but keep churning out the biopic pics - we have had an obscene amount in recent years.
It's the rise of Joan Jett and Cherie Currie and their teenage band The Runaways that are put under the microscope in Floria Sigismondi's latest movie.
The Runaways were the ground-breaking, all girl, teenage rock band of the 1970s.
Friends, Joan Jett and Cherie Currie went from rebellious Southern California kids to rock stars of the now legendary group that paved the way for future generations of girl bands.
Under the Svengali-like influence of rock impresario Kim Fowley the group became an outrageous success and a family of misfits.
With its tough-chick image and raw talent, the band quickly earned a name for itself-and so did its two leads.
Unfortunately for The Runaways this is a formula that we have seen too many times before it's a tired story of hunger for fame before coming face to face with the bittersweet reality of that success.
Yes it's all sex, drugs and rock and roll for Currie as she sees her career go on a downward spiral - just as The Runaways were hitting the big time.
What does work for the movie however is the two central performances from Fanning and Stewart - particularly Stewart.
The smoldering role of Joan Jett is very different to the roles that we have seen her in in recent years - an incredibly bold performance that gives us just a taste of her talent.
Fanning is equally good as the trouble Currie who cannot handle the attention that comes her way.
This film is way too long and it does little to capture the image and the atmosphere of the time.
However the music scenes, as always, are very good, with Fanning giving it her all with Cherry Bomb.
But the movie just lacks originality and sadly when the credits roll you know that this is a movie that you have seen a hundred times before.
The Runaways is out now.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw